Delhi: DDA In An Insensitive Move Demolishes Hostel for Visually Impaired Students

Delhi: DDA In An Insensitive Move Demolishes Hostel for Visually Impaired Students

In Virender Nagar, Janakpuri, the hostel dwellers of Louis Welfare Progressive Association of the Blind received quite a shock. The hostlers, many of whom are Delhi University students, went to their respective colleges just like any normal day but were aghast to see on returning that their place of residence was down in shambles.

About Louis Welfare Progressive Association of the Blind

The hostel that has been running for the past 17 years was set up after the building was vacated. It earlier served as an Anganwadi center. The shelter was home to many visually impaired students, some of whom were completely impaired, and some were partially impaired. Most of the 20 occupants were students who went to colleges under the Delhi University, and some of them were students of the nearby Sarvodaya schools.

The caretaker said, “It used to be an Anganwadi for slum children, but that was relocated in 2010. The area councilor then gave this building for us to live in,” and that “This hostel has produced civil servants and clerks.”

The demolition

DDA demolished the Louis Welfare Progressive Association of the Blind hostel on December 15. Kamlesh Kumar, 32, who is the hostel caretaker and who are visually impaired as well, said that around 11 am on December 15, DDA officials and police arrived at the hostel and demolished it.The occupants say that no information regarding the demolition was intimated to them and they weren’t even given ample time to gather their belongings. Kamlesh said that the officials only took out heavy things, such as beds, refrigerator and left the rest inside before demolishing the structure.

What DDA’s take is?

FDA maintains that the occupants were informed well in advance.“We have been making correspondence with the hostel management since April this year. They have been informed four times since then. A day before the demolition, they were informed verbally. We did not inform them in writing as they could procure a stay order from the court and it becomes very difficult for the DDA to clear encroachments then,” an official said.

He added that the DDA had “sympathy” for the visually impaired occupants, but the action was to teach a lesson to the management.

“Students can live in several government hostels. Why were they running a private hostel on encroached land?”

It has been razed by their drive against encroachment.

Effect on the Students

Lost articles: Aryan Kumar, 21, who was an occupant of the hostel and is a student Delhi University’s School of Open Learning, said, “The building had been razed when I returned from college. I lost my admission slip and some books… Many others lost their notes, mark sheets and gadgets.”

Living conditions are extremely poor: Since the makeshift arrangements of this unforeseen circumstance were sudden, there is not even the provision of the basic amenities of the occupants of the hostel. Mohit Rana, 18, said the hostel’s occupants “haven’t washed clothes in a week and are sleeping and defecating in the open.”

No rehabilitation efforts by the DDA: “Just recently, our gas stove was stolen. The DDA could have rehabilitated us before the demolition.”

Unfairness meted out hurts the occupants: They say “colonies after colonies have come up illegally on DDA land, but the action is never taken against the rich.”

Disturbance of their routine and other issues cropping up: Officials have asked the students to vacate the open space and have given them two options of either going to tents put up by DUSIB or a night shelter. “Blind people are inter-dependent on each other, so it is difficult for them to survive in a night shelter. The temporary arrangement by DUSIB, in the park next to the demolished building, has dirt and filth and sewage water from nearby houses,” said Deepak Kumar, a Class XII student.

Disoriented due to dependence on touch: Since in the hostel, all their things were kept in a specific manner, the students had -become used to the manner in which their belongings were set and arranged. Their daily routine revolved around this arrangement and now they are facing grave difficulties.

“Many of my documents are not in Braille, so I cannot find them by touch. I will have to ask someone to look for them… but who?” Kumar said. “We are all either partially or completely visually impaired here. The neighbors have already done enough by offering us food. I cannot ask them to look for my documents.”

An occupant also stated that since the rubble after the demolition has not been cleared, many of them often hurt themselves looking for their belongings.

Neighbours are assisting to take them to a public toilet every morning, where they form a queue, holding hands. “Those who are partially blind somehow manage in the day, but at night even they are dependent,” he said.

Students also alleged they are facing “trouble from pigs and dogs” near the tents, which have been erected by the DUSIB as a makeshift shelter. The animals often run away with small items and are proving to be quite a nuisance since they can’t even see them.

“Where mattresses are kept on the floor, many often step on them with shoes on, he said.

They are also having trouble reaching to their family and friends since; there is hardly any plug point to charge phones, Dinesh Kumar, 27 said.

Criticism of DDA’s action

The area councilor Narendra Chawla said the hostel was being run by visually impaired students themselves. “It was not a hostel from which people were earning a profit. The students ran it. The DDA has shown insensitivity by carrying out a demolition in such cold.”

Recognition of the issue by Delhi Government & DDA

A joint team of the social welfare department, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, and the area SDM have inspected the demolished hostel site. Rajendra Pal Gautam who is the social welfare minister has sought a report from the team and asked for interim arrangements to be made for the occupants.

Move by the High Court

The Delhi High Court on the 22nd of December, Friday by its bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Shri Hari Shankar has taken suo moto cognizance of the matter and has ordered “immediate rehabilitation” for them. Advocate Mishra has been appointed as an amicus in this matter that is listed on the 16th of January.Efforts by the National Commission for Human Rights

Notices have been issued by the commission to the chief secretary, government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and the vice-chairman of the DDA and a detailed report has been sought within four weeks.

Visually Impaired Person Denied Job After Receiving Offer Letter

Partner Story

Even at 76, Pradip Burman, the zestful chairman of Mobius Foundation radiates a contagious enthusiasm when he is talking about sustainability. The environmental crusader, better known to many as the great-grandson of Dabur founder Dr S.K.Burman, has devoted substantial attention towards promoting the concept of sustainability in all aspects of life. He refuses to conform to the convenience and comfort in today’s world which ultimately adds on to the adverse effects of climate change.

Talking to The Logical Indian, Burman emphasised why sustainability as a concept is indispensable for us. “We ought to be aware of what lies ahead of us. Soon we will finish the oil, iron, tin, and coal, and our next generations will be left with nothing. Recycling, banning plastics, stop felling trees for paper… This should become a part of everyone’s lifestyle,” he urges.

Mr Burman watering a sapling at the tree plantation drive organised by his non-profit Mobius Foundation

Traditional wisdom and modern research

A mechanical engineer from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, Burman had always nurtured a keen interest in helping the society, as evident from his graduation project of designing a sonic aid for the visually challenged, which detected obstacles in the way using ultrasonic wave signals.

As an executive for the nature-centric company Dabur, Burman has always opted for natural alternatives to solve his everyday problems like taking Ayurvedic medicine to cure his Arthritis. He later launched the veterinary wing for Dabur – Ayurvet – which provides nature-friendly solutions for animal health care.

A patron of the ancient scientific wisdom of India, Burman always hailed the confluence of “traditional knowledge and modern research”, which he advocated as the Ayurvet motto.

Ayurvet is one of the best ventures by Mr Burman

As part of the CSR initiative of Dabur, Pradip Burman founded SUNDESH (Sustainable Development Society) which has been tirelessly working for last 25 years in remote villages for uplifting the rural communities in an environmentally sustainable way.

An advocate of sustainability

Burman believes that sustainability is the indispensable mantra for the world at present. Due to uncontrolled utilisation of the planet’s resources by human beings, the world today stands at a juncture of destabilisation. Today the human race has reached the pinnacle of progress but the advancement is happening in a very unsustainable manner.

Through energy-efficient use of everyday essentials like transport, communication, altered habits of diet, clothing and daily living, some crusaders of sustainability try to reduce their carbon footprint. Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is one of the forerunners toward sustainability goals.

Mobius Foundation aims to change the sustainability dynamics

In 2015, Burman paved the way for the start of Mobius Foundation, focused on sustainability. Named after 18th-century German mathematician August Ferdinand Mobius, the famous Mobius strip has an important philosophical significance. The extraordinary shape symbolises balance and union.

Similar is the essence of Mobius Foundation which wishes to enhance the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” principle to a widespread basis in India, helping generations to come.

Founder Pradip Burman wishes to achieve notable development in education, population stabilisation and renewable energy projects.

A dream school in the making

At Coorg, Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is constructing the World Environment School, Coorg (WESc) where the curriculum will surpass the boundaries of books and classrooms, with a special focus on hands-on learning in close collaboration with the environment. Amidst the pristine natural beauty of Coorg, the school will nurture young minds to grow up into future green leaders. As of now, the school will be open to teenagers, welcoming students from standards 6 to 12.

Needless to say, World Environment School will be the first-of-its-kind not only in India but also in entire South Asia. The school is expected to start from March 2020.

The school promises to nurture the responsible behaviour of citizens of our future.

The Sustainability Conference of 2019

In 2019, the Mobius Foundation has planned an international conference, on the lines of the celebrated earth summits over the past decade. The 2019 International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2019) aims to bring together environmental activists, practitioners of sustainable development as well as climate change experts to help develop a sustainability-focused curriculum.

It is surmised that the conference will give a platform to innovative concepts of Sustainability Education including an essential change in the existing education system ensuring a wholesome personal development for a student.

The Sustainability crusader

The Mobius founder strongly believes that it is high time to sprout sustainability awareness among a society drowning in consumerism and unknowingly doing irreparable harm to the planet, every second. The best way to achieve this goal is through education which is available to all. At present, the education system is predominantly career-oriented, making the learners a victim of materialism, and thus, their dreams are also outlined in those colours.

Living beyond the limits

When asked about his wish to attain the age of hundred, he strongly asserts that more than becoming a centurion, he wishes his life and work continue to better the society even in his absence. “I have lived my life. I wish that whatever I start before I go, will continue – for the betterment of my country,” says Mr Pradip Burman.

He is also a trustee of the Climate Reality Project – India (affiliated to Mr. Al Gore of the Climate Reality Project Foundation, USA). Climate Reality Project, India, has been actively engaged igniting the spark and spreading the message of climate change amongst educators, policy makers and civil society. The India branch looks after more than 500 trained Climate Leaders, and more than 900 volunteers spread all over the country.

In his journey, Pradip Burman has been a beacon of hope for millions, motivating many to join the movement for sustainability. We wish he continues his tireless efforts for promoting sustainability awareness and inspire generations to come.